Mother pleads guilty in child abuse case

Published 8:00 pm, Tuesday, June 3, 2008

A Norwalk woman decided not to face trial for allegedly beating her 20-month-old daughter, pleading guilty Monday to assault in the first degree and risk of injury to a child.

Nicole Taylor, 31, formerly of 204 Suncrest Road, faces eight to 10 years in prison followed by five years of probation.

On May 15 of last year, the girl's grandfather brought her to Norwalk Hospital, because she seemed lethargic and sleepy. She had multiple bruises on her torso, a cut to her neck and discoloration on her neck, back, thighs, trunk and chest, according to a court affidavit. Doctors noted signs of liver damage and shock.

The girl was rushed to Yale-New Haven children's hospital, where doctors in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit saved her.

Asked by police for an evaluation, a doctor on the hospital's Child Abuse Committee said the girl's injuries were indicative of child abuse.

Taylor's father, Vasco Willis, said he had nothing to say about the case.

During police questioning, Taylor denied punching or slapping her daughter, slamming her into a crib or hurting her in any way.

"I never hit my daughter. I never hit none of them," she told police, referring also to her two other pre-teen daughters, who were taken away during the investigation, the affidavit said.

Still, Taylor could not adequately explain to police the marks on her daughter's body. On several occasions she told investigators that she believed the marks to be eczema, and she had applied cream to the spotted areas to no avail. She never indicated that anyone else was responsible for injuring her daughter.

Through interviews with family, friends and neighbors, police determined that Taylor was responsible for her daughter's injuries. She was arrested Sept. 6, 2007.

Taylor entered an Alford plea Monday, meaning she disputes the charges but believes a jury would not rule in her favor. In terms of sentencing, it's the same as a guilty plea. Her punishment will be determined in October.